Neil Adams stays true to his pledge of attacking football as Norwich City hit five

Norwich City’s pre-season cranked up another notch on Monday night with an impressive win over OCG Nice at Carrow Road.

Goals from Nathan Redmond, Lewis Grabban, Bradley Johnson, Andrew Surman and Elliott Bennett gave the City faithful a reminder of what it’s like to see goals, with their Gallic opposition offering little by way of resistance.

But it was a fine workout and, in the space of four days, games against French opponents have given City’s pre-season a timely boost in intensity.

While Neil Adams currently has a few injuries and absences to contend with – Jonny Howson, Kyle Lafferty, Martin Olsson and Leroy Fer all sat out last night’s game for differing reasons – his starting line-up had a distinctly ‘first XI’ look about it.

That no changes were made at half-time also adds credence to this, admittedly iffy, theory.

If that particular formation is indeed Adams’ vision of the future (or at least forms part of his ‘horses for courses’ masterplan), it’s one that will find favour with the Yellow Army. And was a familiar one.

A diamond with Wes Hoolahan at the front tip and Andrew Surman on the left was – for those unaware – the crux of our last successful quest in the Championship.

That both looked so at home in those same roles last night was no coincidence. It relied on round pegs in round holes – and City prospered accordingly.

Of course, a thumping win against French opposition of questionable desire is not to be over-valued, but with winning a forgotten art in these parts any victory is to be applauded right now.

And in truth, niggling injuries and the odd cancellation aside, things look to be progressing nicely. The new City boss not only talks of attacking football but is showing signs of walking the walk.

Much will depend on the hand Adams has to play, first of all on August 10 and then – more critically – on September 2. I have an inkling the number of aces in his pack may have reduced by then.

Clearly there are sinister forces – aka football agents – at work in the Fine City, and only today the representatives of Alex Tettey and Ricky van Wolfswinkel have seen fit to raise their grubby little heads above the parapet.

For his part, Tettey’s Mr Ten Per Cent decided to blow the lid on the fact that City have had an offer from a Premier League club which they turned down. Outrageous eh?

But Ricky’s went one better, and I quote: ‘The Championship is not the stage on which he [Ricky] plays his football’.

Having watched his client at close quarters last season I tend to agree with Louis Laros. Equally I’m not sure the likes Colchester and Rochdale would be in a position to cope with his client’s wage demands.

In fairness, this missive appears not of Ricky’s making, but his agent is doing him few favours with such rhetoric.

A return to Portugal – probably on loan – looks a likely next step for the Dutchman.